Albert Pujols broke the scoreless streak and Jeff Weaver did just enough on the mound, as the Cardinals beat the Mets 4-2 in Game 5 Tuesday night. St. Louis took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Redbirds are one win away from clinching their second World Series appearance in three years.

Mets starter Tom Glavine had gone 10 1/3 innings without giving up a run in the NLCS this year. He tossed seven shutout innings in Game 1 against the Cardinals for a 2-0 win. Pujols was not impressed after that game and expressed his displeasure through the media. Tuesday, Pujols expressed his displeasure for Glavine’s success through his bat, belting a solo homer with one out in the fourth inning. Ronnie Belliard later added an RBI in the inning to tie the game at 2-2.

Preston Wilson drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI double in the fifth that scored David Eckstein. Chris Duncan’s solo homer in the sixth gave the Cardinals an insurance that they would not need.

The Cardinals bullpen that gave up 10 runs in five innings in Game 4 held tight Tuesday. Josh Kinney, Randy Flores, and Adam Wainright combined to shut out the Mets on two hits in three innings. Wainright earned the save.

Most importantly for St. Louis, they were able to keep Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado in check. Beltran has historically been a thorn in the Cardinals side, homering seven times in 11 games against the Cardinals in the playoffs. In Game 5, he was 1-for-4 with zero RBI. Delgado, who is hitting .406 during the playoffs was 1-for-3 with no RBI.

Staff ace Chris Carpenter will be on the mound trying to clinch the series Wednesday. Rookie right-hander John Maine will have the pressure of an entire team on his shoulders as he will start for the Mets.

Related web sites:
Cardinals Official Website